Steering and propelling means for dirigible airships.



R. R. WATEHMAN;

STEERING AND PROPELLING MEANS FOR DIRlGIBLE AIRSHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 25. 1916.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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R. R. WATERMAN.

STEERING AND PROPELLING MEANS FOR DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 19l6.

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RUSSELL R. WATERMA'N, F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

STEERING- PROPELLING MEANS FOR DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 25, 1916. Serial No. 93,425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Russell. R. WATER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steering and Propelling Means. for Dirigible Airships, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to steering and propelling means for dirigible airships, and.

particularly to a control mechanism for vertically and laterally steering the craft which is designed to be arranged in proximity to a propeller so that the draft of air sweeping from the propeller will be utilized to secure greater sensitiveness of the steerihg and controlling actions.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a construction of steering and propelling mechanism for dirigible balloons, by means of which a steering mechanism maybe employed at the front of the craft in connection with a tractor propeller, and

A in such a nianner'as to lie in the path of the air flowing from the propeller, so that the greater resistance and density of 'such air may be .utilized to increase the steering efliciency of the rudder planes.

A further object of the invention is to providea construction of steering controls, consisting of elevating and lateral steering planes, arranged for ready and convenient adjustment and disposed to track the propeller in the path of flight of the'craft, whereby immediately responsive actions for steering and balancing purposes will be obtained when the control rudders are ad- 'justed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arran ement of parts hereinafter fully descri ed and claimed, reference being had to the acoom panying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary. side elevation of the frame of a dirigible balloon showing the steering devices and propeller, the rudder planes being in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same showing the elevating planes adjusted for steering action in one direction.

Fig. 3 is a front elevatlon showing the 4 rudder planes in normal position.

section controlling mechanism which comprlses a pair of superposed horizontal transverse rudder planes 4, to which are hinged, as indicated at 5, a series of vertically arranged lateral rudder planes 6, which are disposed in spaced relation to each other between the said, horizontal rudder planes 4. These planes may be of any suitable general form and constructed of any suitable material, the planes 4 being preferably of oblong rectangular form, as shown, and the planes of both sets are preferably each made of a Patented Apr. ILQILQJW.

suitable framework provided with a covering of metal, fabric or other suitable material.

Attached to the upper and lower planes 4 are upwardly and downwardly projecting arms 7, which are coupled to controlling wires or cables 8 leading to a suitable control device, whereby one cable may be drawn or pulled upon and the other slackened, and vice versa, for the simultaneous adjustment of both planes 4 in one direction or the other to steer the craft upwardly and down wardly, as well as to provide for the control of the craft to maintain longitudinal stability, as will be readily understood. Leading from the respective arms 7 to the front and rear edges of each plane 4 are combined stay and motion transmitting connections 9, and coupling the planes 4 in front and rear of their pivotal points 10, or the horizontal transverse axes on which-they swing, are connections 11, by means of which the two planes are joined for movement in unison.

The vertical rudder planes 6 are preferably of kite-shape formation, each being of maximum depth in line with its pivot 5, at a point between its front and rear edges, and thence having its upper and lower edges sloping downwardly toward the front and rear edges thereof as indicated respectively at 12 and 13, this arrangement permitting the two sets of planes to swing on axes which are in alinement with each other, and also permitting the planes 4L to swing downwardly and forwardly to proper an-. gles within their limits of motion.

The rudder planes 6 are adjustable to' swing laterally in unison in either direc- 10 tion, and the end planes of the series are provided with outwardly extending arms 14 coupled to the front and rear edges of such planes by connections 15, and said planes having their front and rear edges united by flexible connections 16 and 17 respectively to adapt them to move in unison. Coupled to the arms 14 are control connections 18 which may lead rearwardly to a suitable control device of the craft, whereby the planes 6 may be adjusted, the operation of the sets of rudder planes being obvious to those versed in theart from theforegoing description. It will be observed that by the construction and arrangement of the sets of rudder planes, which are disposed vat the front of the craft and track the propeller 2, z. e., lie immediately .in rear of the propeller and follow the same in the course of flight, it will be evident that the rudder planes are disposed in the path of the air flowing from the propeller and hence when adjusted are subjected to resisting pressures greater than air in its normal condition. As a result, when the rudders of either set are adjusted for a controlling action a uicker and stronger responsive action will obtained for steering or controlling efi'ect, with great advantage in steering or maintaining stability. By this construction and arrangement of parts, also, a tractor propeller may beemployed with greater advantage, and

the craft may'be steered and controlled with much greater facility and efliciency' than is posslble in arrangements employing rear steering planes and propellers of the pusher type.

While I have specified the use ofa tractor propeller and front rudders, it is to be understood that the described construction of propeller and rudders may be employed at the rear of the craft in connection with a pushing propeller, and that the propelling and rudder structures may be duplicated at both ends of the craft, if desired.

. I claim:

1. In a steering, controlling and propel-- ling mechanism for dirigible balloons, the combination of a balloon frame, a tractor propeller, a pair of vertically movable elevator planes arranged in rear of the propeller, a plurality of laterallymovable vertical rudder planes between the superposed horizontal rudder planes, the sets of planes being disposed in the path of the air flowing from the propeller, and controlling means for the sets of planes.

2. In a steering, controlling and propelling mechanism for dirigible balloons, a

balloon frame, a tractor propeller at the front of the balloon frame, a pair of vertically swinging superposed horizontalelevator planes upon the balloon frame in'rear' of the propeller, means connecting said elevator planes for movement in the same direction in unison, means for operating said ,planes, a series of vertically disposed laterally swinging rudder planes between the elevator planes, means for connecting said laterally swinging planes in unison, and

means for controlling said planes, the said I vertical laterally movable planes being provided in front and rear of their pivots with sloping surfaces whereby the planes are adapted to be coaxially mounted and the elevator planes rendered movable to wide angles of adjustment. a y 5 In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture.

RUSSELL WATERMAN. 

